US20120023780A1 - Open-soled article of footwear - Google Patents
Open-soled article of footwear Download PDFInfo
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- US20120023780A1 US20120023780A1 US12/846,888 US84688810A US2012023780A1 US 20120023780 A1 US20120023780 A1 US 20120023780A1 US 84688810 A US84688810 A US 84688810A US 2012023780 A1 US2012023780 A1 US 2012023780A1
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- sole structure
- wearer
- foot
- footwear
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- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A43—FOOTWEAR
- A43B—CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES OF FOOTWEAR; PARTS OF FOOTWEAR
- A43B7/00—Footwear with health or hygienic arrangements
- A43B7/14—Footwear with health or hygienic arrangements with foot-supporting parts
- A43B7/1405—Footwear with health or hygienic arrangements with foot-supporting parts with pads or holes on one or more locations, or having an anatomical or curved form
- A43B7/1415—Footwear with health or hygienic arrangements with foot-supporting parts with pads or holes on one or more locations, or having an anatomical or curved form characterised by the location under the foot
- A43B7/144—Footwear with health or hygienic arrangements with foot-supporting parts with pads or holes on one or more locations, or having an anatomical or curved form characterised by the location under the foot situated under the heel, i.e. the calcaneus bone
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- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A43—FOOTWEAR
- A43B—CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES OF FOOTWEAR; PARTS OF FOOTWEAR
- A43B5/00—Footwear for sporting purposes
- A43B5/08—Bathing shoes ; Aquatic sports shoes
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- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A43—FOOTWEAR
- A43B—CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES OF FOOTWEAR; PARTS OF FOOTWEAR
- A43B7/00—Footwear with health or hygienic arrangements
- A43B7/14—Footwear with health or hygienic arrangements with foot-supporting parts
- A43B7/1405—Footwear with health or hygienic arrangements with foot-supporting parts with pads or holes on one or more locations, or having an anatomical or curved form
- A43B7/1415—Footwear with health or hygienic arrangements with foot-supporting parts with pads or holes on one or more locations, or having an anatomical or curved form characterised by the location under the foot
- A43B7/1425—Footwear with health or hygienic arrangements with foot-supporting parts with pads or holes on one or more locations, or having an anatomical or curved form characterised by the location under the foot situated under the ball of the foot, i.e. the joint between the first metatarsal and first phalange
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- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A43—FOOTWEAR
- A43B—CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES OF FOOTWEAR; PARTS OF FOOTWEAR
- A43B7/00—Footwear with health or hygienic arrangements
- A43B7/14—Footwear with health or hygienic arrangements with foot-supporting parts
- A43B7/1405—Footwear with health or hygienic arrangements with foot-supporting parts with pads or holes on one or more locations, or having an anatomical or curved form
- A43B7/1415—Footwear with health or hygienic arrangements with foot-supporting parts with pads or holes on one or more locations, or having an anatomical or curved form characterised by the location under the foot
- A43B7/145—Footwear with health or hygienic arrangements with foot-supporting parts with pads or holes on one or more locations, or having an anatomical or curved form characterised by the location under the foot situated under the toes, i.e. the phalanges
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- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A43—FOOTWEAR
- A43B—CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES OF FOOTWEAR; PARTS OF FOOTWEAR
- A43B7/00—Footwear with health or hygienic arrangements
- A43B7/14—Footwear with health or hygienic arrangements with foot-supporting parts
- A43B7/1405—Footwear with health or hygienic arrangements with foot-supporting parts with pads or holes on one or more locations, or having an anatomical or curved form
- A43B7/1475—Footwear with health or hygienic arrangements with foot-supporting parts with pads or holes on one or more locations, or having an anatomical or curved form characterised by the type of support
- A43B7/1485—Recesses or holes, traversing partially or completely the thickness of the pad
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- Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
- General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
- Epidemiology (AREA)
- Public Health (AREA)
- Physical Education & Sports Medicine (AREA)
- Footwear And Its Accessory, Manufacturing Method And Apparatuses (AREA)
Abstract
An article of footwear having a sole structure with openings formed therethrough is disclosed. The article of footwear includes an upper for receiving a foot of a wearer and a sole structure attached to the upper and positioned generally below the foot. The sole structure has at least one opening formed therein that extends through the sole structure. The at least one opening formed through the sole structure exposes the plantar surface of the foot of the wearer to a ground surface when the article of footwear is worn by the wearer, and is constructed so as to allow contact between the plantar surface of the foot and the ground surface.
Description
- Embodiments of the invention relates generally to the field of footwear and, more particularly, to an article of footwear having a sole structure with openings formed therethrough.
- Conventional articles of athletic footwear include two primary elements, an upper and a sole structure. The upper provides a covering for the foot that securely receives and positions the foot with respect to the sole structure. In addition, the upper may have a configuration that protects the foot and provides ventilation, thereby cooling the foot and removing perspiration. The sole structure is secured to a lower surface of the upper and is generally positioned between the foot and the ground. In addition to attenuating ground reaction forces and absorbing energy (i.e., imparting cushioning), the sole structure may provide traction and control potentially harmful foot motion, such as over pronation. Accordingly, the upper and the sole structure operate cooperatively to provide a comfortable structure that is suited for a wide variety of ambulatory activities, such as walking and running
- The sole structure generally incorporates multiple layers that are conventionally referred to as an insole, a midsole, and an outsole. The insole is a thin, cushioning member located within the upper and adjacent the plantar (lower/bottom) surface of the foot to enhance footwear comfort. The midsole, which is traditionally attached to the upper along the entire length of the upper, forms the middle layer of the sole structure and serves a variety of purposes that include controlling foot motions and providing cushioning. The outsole forms the ground-contacting element of footwear and is usually fashioned from a durable, wear-resistant material that includes texturing to improve traction.
- In conventional articles of footwear, the sole structure is formed so as to completely separate a foot of the wearer from the ground. That is, the insole, midsole, and outsole are formed as continuous, or nearly continuous, layers that provide coverage to an entire bottom surface of the foot of the wearer. The foot of the wearer is thus prevented from making direct contact with the ground, as the midsole and outsole separate the foot from the ground in order to provide cushioning, support, and traction to a wearer.
- In some instances, however, a wearer may desire to enjoy a more natural, barefoot-like walking experience. For example, hikers may wish to feel the ground beneath them as they walk in order to experience the feel of walking over different terrains or materials, such as leaves, grass, and mud, for example. As another example, golfers may wish to have a greater feel of the ground beneath them in order to achieve greater stability during a golf swing. Conventional items of footwear deprive a wearer from achieving such an experience by completely separating the foot of a wearer from the ground.
- Additionally, in some instances, a wearer may also desire to minimize his impact on types of natural terrain. That is, it is recognized that a hiker wearing conventional hard-soled footwear has a more dramatic impact on vegetation and soil than a barefoot hiker. Thus, a hiker may desire to walk barefoot in order to preserve a grassy trail and minimize his or her impact on that trail.
- While hiking over certain terrain in a barefoot manner can produce a more enjoyable sensory experience, it is recognized that certain types of surfaces can be difficult to walk over while barefoot. That is, rocky terrain or hard surfaces, such as cement, may be hard on bare feet. Similarly, ground that is extremely hot or cold may cause a hiker to experience discomfort if walking over that surface barefoot. Thus, it is recognized that some form of protection is desirable for a wearer when walking over such terrain.
- It would therefore be desirable to have an article of footwear that provides a wearer with the sensory benefits of barefoot walking It would also be desirable for the article of footwear to provide a wearer with some amount of protection from various types of terrain.
- Embodiments of the invention provide an article of footwear having a sole structure with openings formed therethrough being constructed and sized so as to allow a portion of a foot of a wearer to contact a ground surface.
- In accordance with one aspect of the invention, an article of footwear includes an upper for receiving a foot of a wearer and a sole structure attached to the upper and positioned generally below the foot. The sole structure has at least one opening formed therein that extends through the sole structure, with the at least one opening being constructed to allow a portion of the foot of the wearer to contact a ground surface.
- In accordance with another aspect of the invention, an article of footwear includes an upper for receiving a foot of a wearer and a sole structure attached to the upper and positioned generally below the foot. The sole structure further includes a heel portion constructed to receive a heel of a wearer, a ball portion constructed to receive a ball of the foot of the wearer, and an opening extending generally between the heel portion and the ball portion in a midfoot region of the sole structure. The sole structure is constructed such that a thickness of the heel and ball portions and a size of the opening provide for a portion of the foot of the wearer to contact a ground surface
- In accordance with yet another aspect of the invention, a sole structure for an article of footwear includes a plurality of weight bearing portions configured to bear a weight of the wearer and an outer perimeter portion outlining a shape of the sole structure and connecting the plurality of weight bearing portions. At least one opening is formed in the sole structure and is defined by the plurality of weight bearing portions and the outer perimeter portion, with each of the at least one openings being sized so as to allow a portion of a plantar surface of a foot of the wearer to contact a ground surface.
- Various other features and advantages will be made apparent from the following detailed description and the drawings.
- The drawings illustrate embodiments presently contemplated for carrying out the invention.
- In the drawings:
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FIG. 1 is a side view of an article of footwear for use with embodiments of the invention. -
FIG. 2 is a bottom view of the article of footwear ofFIG. 1 having a sole structure according to an embodiment of the invention. -
FIG. 3 is a bottom view of the article of footwear ofFIG. 1 having a sole structure according to an embodiment of the invention. -
FIG. 4 is a side view of an article of footwear for use with embodiments of the invention. -
FIG. 5 is a bottom view of the article of footwear ofFIG. 4 having a sole structure according to an embodiment of the invention. - The following discussion and accompanying figures disclose an article of
footwear 10 in accordance with embodiments of the present invention.Footwear 10 is depicted in the figures and discussed below as having a configuration that is suitable for athletic activities, particularly hiking or other outdoor wear in a natural environment. The concepts disclosed with respect tofootwear 10 may, however, be applied to footwear styles that are specifically designed for a wide range of other athletic or non-athletic activities, including golf, walking, and everyday wear. Accordingly, one skilled in the relevant art will recognize that the concepts disclosed herein may be applied to a wide range of footwear styles and are not meant to be limited to. - Referring now to
FIG. 1 ,footwear 10 is depicted and includes an upper 12 and asole structure 14. Upper 12 is formed from various material elements that are stitched or adhesively-bonded together to form an interior void that comfortably receives a foot and secures the position of the foot relative tosole structure 14.Sole structure 14 is secured to a lower portion of upper 12 and provides a durable, wear-resistant component for attenuating ground reaction forces and absorbing energy (i.e., providing cushioning) asfootwear 10 impacts the ground, while also providing for selective portions of a foot to make contact with the surface across which a wearer is walking through thesole structure 14, as will be explained in greater detail below. - The upper 12 forms a void on the interior of the footwear for receiving the foot. The void has the general shape of the foot, and access to the void is provided by an ankle opening 16. Accordingly, the upper 12 extends over the instep and toe areas of the foot, along the medial and lateral sides of the foot, and around the heel area of the foot. A
lacing system 18 is often incorporated into the upper 12 to selectively increase the size of the ankle opening 16 and permit the wearer to modify certain dimensions of the upper, particularly girth, to accommodate feet with varying proportions. In addition, the upper 12 may include atongue 20 that extends under thelacing system 18 to enhance the comfort of the footwear. While alacing system 18 andtongue 20 are shown as being incorporated into upper 12, it is recognized that alternate features could be implemented therein according to additional embodiments of the invention. For example, a drawstring system or bungee cord type system could replace thelacing system 18, and an upper formed in part of a conformable material, such as neoprene or stretch nylon for example, could obviate the need for a tongue. - The
sole structure 14 offootwear 10 includes aninsole 22,midsole 24, andoutsole 26, that are each formed to provide selective coverage to the plantar (i.e., lower) surface of the foot, as will be explained in greater detail below.Insole 22 is located within the upper 12 and adjacent the plantar surface of the foot to enhance footwear comfort. Themidsole 24 is positioned below theinsole 22 and provides support and cushioning to wearer, while theoutsole 26 forms the ground-contacting element ofsole structure 14 and is usually fashioned from a durable, wear-resistant material that includes texturing to improve traction. Whilesole structure 14 is described as including each ofinsole 22,midsole 24, andoutsole 26, it is recognized that embodiments of the invention may forgo the use of aninsole 22 ormidsole 24. - For purposes of reference,
sole structure 14 may be divided into a number of general regions: aheel region 28, amidfoot region 30, and aforefoot region 32, as defined inFIG. 1 . Generally,heel region 28 corresponds to the heel of the wearer,midfoot region 30 corresponds to the metatarsal arch of the wearer, andforefoot region 32 corresponds to the ball and toes of the wearer. - Referring now to
FIG. 2 , a bottom view of thesole structure 14 of thefootwear 10 is shown according to an embodiment of the invention.Sole structure 14 is formed such thatopenings 33 are formed that extend an entirety of the way therethrough so as to expose the bare, plantar surface of the foot to the ground when footwear 10 (FIG. 1 ) is worn by a wearer. Thus,insole 22,midsole 24, andoutsole 26 ofsole structure 14 are formed to cover the plantar surface of the foot only in selective locations. As shown inFIG. 2 ,sole structure 14 is formed to cover the plantar surface of the foot at what are generally considered to be “weight bearing portions” of the foot, those being a heel and ball of the foot of a wearer. Thus, according to an embodiment of the invention,sole structure 14 includes aheel portion 34, generally corresponding to the heel of a wearer, and aball portion 36, generally corresponding to the ball of the foot of a wearer. Also included insole structure 14 is anouter perimeter portion 38 that outlines a shape of thesole structure 14. Theouter perimeter portion 38 therefore extends forward from theheel portion 34, between theheel portion 34 and theball portion 36 along aperimeter 40 of thesole structure 14, and also extends forward from theball portion 36 to define theperimeter 40 of theforefoot region 32 ofsole structure 14. According to an embodiment of the invention, a section ofouter perimeter portion 38 inmidfoot region 30, adjacent an inner edge of thesole structure 14, can be formed as a support arch structure that provides support to the metatarsal arch of the wearer. - According to an embodiment of the invention, and as shown in
FIG. 2 , an opening 42 (i.e., first opening) is formed insole structure 14 betweenheel portion 34 and ball portion 36 (i.e., in midfoot region 30). Theopening 42 is thus formed in thesole structure 14 in an area adjacent to a metatarsal arch of the wearer and extends between theheel portion 34 andball portion 36. The metatarsal arch of the wearer is mainly a non-weight bearing portion of the foot, and thus the need for cushioning in this area is minimized.Opening 42 is sized/constructed so as to allow a portion of the plantar surface of the foot of the wearer to contact a ground surface. According to one embodiment of the invention,heel portion 34 is formed to have a generally U-shaped profile, such thatopening 42 extends back into a small area of theheel portion 34. The U-shaped profile ofheel portion 34 generally corresponds to the shape of the heel of the wearer, and thus still provides cushioning to the heel of the wearer, while also providing for an increased area of opening 42, to expose more of the plantar surface of the foot to the ground. - As further shown in
FIG. 2 , an additional opening 44 (i.e., second opening) is formed insole structure 14 in an area adjacent to a toe portion of the wearer, generally in a portion of theforefoot region 32. That is, opening 44 is formed insole structure 14 and is positioned forward ofball portion 36, so as to be generally defined byball portion 36 and that part ofouter perimeter portion 38 that defines theperimeter 40 of theforefoot region 32 ofsole structure 14. Theopening 44 is thus formed in thesole structure 14 in an area adjacent to the toes of the wearer, so as to expose at least a portion of the toes to the ground, and is sized/constructed so as to allow a portion of the plantar surface of the foot of the wearer to contact the ground. Similar to the metatarsal arch, the toes of the wearer are mainly a non-weight bearing portion of the foot, and thus the need for cushioning in this area is minimized. - While
openings sole structure 14 could include only one of theses openings formed therein. Thus, according to an embodiment of the invention,sole structure 14 could include opening 42 formed therethrough adjacent the metatarsal arch of the wearer, without opening 44 being formed in thesole structure 14. Alternatively,sole structure 14 could include opening 44 formed therethrough adjacent the toes of the wearer, without opening 42 being formed in thesole structure 14. - According to the embodiment of
FIG. 2 ,sole structure 14 thus provides protection to the weight-bearing portions of the foot of the wearer from a ground surface, while also exposing selective, generally non-weight bearing portions of the foot to the ground surface. The weight-bearingheel portion 34,ball portion 36, andouter perimeter portion 38 of the soles are formed of a selectively patternedinsole 22,midsole 24, and outsole 26 (FIG. 1 ) to provide comfort, cushioning, and fraction to a wearer via any of a number of energy/shock absorbent materials in themidsole 24 and durable, wear-resistant materials and patterns on theoutsole 26. Theopenings - To further accommodate and allow for portions of the foot making bare contact with the ground surface, it is recognized that a thickness 46 (
FIG. 1 ) ofsole structure 14 should me minimized to the extent possible, while still providing adequate cushioning to a wearer. Thus, for example, athickness 46 ofsole structure 14 could be in the range of 3 mm to 10 mm in thickness. The above cited range is merely exemplary and it is recognized that asole structure 14 having a lesser orgreater thickness 46 is within the scope of the invention, such that it allows for portions of the foot making bare contact with the ground surface. Additionally, it is recognized thatsole structure 14 can be constructed so as to conform to the contours of the plantar surface of the foot of the wearer, so as to further provide for a barefoot type walking experience and accommodate portions of the foot making bare contact with the ground surface. - Referring still to
FIG. 2 , according to one embodiment of the invention,heel portion 34 andball portion 36 ofsole structure 14 each include a plurality ofapertures 48 formed therethrough, extending through theinsole 22,midsole 24, andoutsole 26 of theheel portion 34 andball portion 36.Apertures 48 are small in size as compared toopenings heel portion 34 andball portion 36.Apertures 48 function to drain water, small pebbles, dirt, sand, etc., that may have become trapped between a plantar surface of the foot and the heel andball portions sole structure 14. As such,apertures 48 may have a funnel shape, with a wider opening 50 (shown in phantom) formedadjacent insole 22, and funneling down to anarrower opening 52 exitingoutsole 26, so as to promote removal of water, pebbles, dirt, etc. - According to one embodiment of the invention, as a further protection against small pebbles, dirt, sand, etc., becoming trapped between a plantar surface of the foot and the heel and
ball portions sole structure 14,inner edges 54 ofheel portion 34,ball portion 36, andouter perimeter portion 38 adjacent to/definingopenings inner edges 54 may be constructed to curve upward toward the foot of a wearer in order to form a barrier betweenedges 54 and the foot of the wearer. - Referring now to
FIG. 3 , according to another embodiment of the invention,sole structure 14 is provided where “opening 44” is formed as a plurality of openings betweenball portion 36 and that part ofouter perimeter portion 38 that defines theperimeter 40 of theforefoot region 32. That is, as shown inFIG. 3 , opening 44 includesmultiple toe openings 56 corresponding to the toes of the wearer. Thus, fivetoe openings 56 would be formed throughsole structure 14, being defined by a toesole portion 58 of thesole structure 14. Anadditional opening 60 is also formed insole structure 14 betweenball portion 36 and toesole portion 58, according to an embodiment of the invention, thereby exposing more of the plantar surface of the foot to the ground. - According to an embodiment of the invention,
sole structure 14 can be constructed such that toesole portion 58 is generally divided into five separate portions that are generally shaped to conform to the toes of the wearer. That is, toesole portion 58 may be constructed such that the insole 22 (FIG. 1 ) may be shaped to generally conform to the toes of the wearer and, additionally, the outsole 26 (FIG. 1 ) may be contoured on a bottom surface thereof to have a shape generally matching that of the toes of the wearer. - An additional embodiment of the invention is shown in
FIGS. 4 and 5 , where an upper 76 of an article offootwear 78 is configured as a sandal-type upper, and thus is comprised of a plurality ofstraps 80 that selectively receive and secure the foot of a wearer. Asole structure 82 is attached to upper 76 and includes a plurality of weight-bearing portions, including aheel portion 84, generally corresponding to the heel of a wearer, and aball portion 86, generally corresponding to the ball of the foot of a wearer. Also included in sole structure is anouter perimeter portion 88 that outlines a shape of thesole structure 82. Theouter perimeter portion 88 therefore extends forward from theheel portion 84, between theheel portion 84 and theball portion 86 along an outer edge of thesole structure 82. - An
opening 90 is formed insole structure 82 betweenheel portion 84 andball portion 86. Theopening 90 is thus formed in thesole structure 82 in an area adjacent to a metatarsal arch of the wearer, exposing at least of portion of the metatarsal arch of the foot to the ground. Additionally, a plurality ofapertures 92 are formed throughsole structure 82 that are sized to provide for drainage/removal of water, small pebbles, dirt, sand, etc., that may have become trapped between a plantar surface of the foot and the heel andball portions sole structure 14. - As shown in the embodiment of
FIGS. 4 and 5 ,sole structure 82 ends atball portion 86, and does not extend further forward. Thus, a “forefoot region” ofsole structure 82 is cut off atball portion 86. Removal of such a forefoot region fromfootwear 78 allows for an even greater portion of the foot of the wearer to make bare contact with the ground surface, as the toes of a wearer will be completely exposed for making contact with the ground surface. - While embodiments of sole structure described above are detailed as including an insole, midsole, and outsole, it is recognized that such a construction is meant to be only an exemplary embodiment. According to embodiments of the invention, a sole structure, or portions thereof, may not include each of an insole, midsole, and outsole (e.g., sole structure may only include an outsole and an insole/footbed). As such embodiments of the invention are not meant to be limited to a sole structure having each of an insole, midsole, and outsole.
- Additionally, it is recognized that further features could be added to
sole structure 14 to accommodate different uses forfootwear 10. For example,heel portion 34 andball portion 36 ofsole structure 14 could also include a plurality of spikes (e.g., golf soft-spikes) that provide traction to a wearer. Such spikes could be designed to have a low profile so as not to extend out a great distance fromsole structure 14, thereby still permitting portions of the plantar surface of the foot (i.e., the metatarsal arch and toes) to make contact with the ground, and could be selectively located on the heel andball portions - Therefore, according to one embodiment of the invention, an article of footwear includes an upper for receiving a foot of a wearer and a sole structure attached to the upper and positioned generally below the foot. The sole structure has at least one opening formed therein that extends through the sole structure, with the at least one opening being constructed to allow a portion of the foot of the wearer to contact a ground surface.
- According to another embodiment of the invention, an article of footwear includes an upper for receiving a foot of a wearer and a sole structure attached to the upper and positioned generally below the foot. The sole structure further includes a heel portion constructed to receive a heel of a wearer, a ball portion constructed to receive a ball of the foot of the wearer, and an opening extending generally between the heel portion and the ball portion in a midfoot region of the sole structure. The sole structure is constructed such that a thickness of the heel and ball portions and a size of the opening provide for a portion of the foot of the wearer to contact a ground surface
- According to yet another embodiment of the invention, a sole structure for an article of footwear includes a plurality of weight bearing portions configured to bear a weight of the wearer and an outer perimeter portion outlining a shape of the sole structure and connecting the plurality of weight bearing portions. At least one opening is formed in the sole structure and is defined by the plurality of weight bearing portions and the outer perimeter portion, with each of the at least one openings being sized so as to allow a portion of a plantar surface of a foot of the wearer to contact a ground surface.
- This written description uses examples to disclose the invention, including the best mode, and also to enable any person skilled in the art to practice the invention, including making and using any devices or systems and performing any incorporated methods. The patentable scope of the invention is defined by the claims, and may include other examples that occur to those skilled in the art. Such other examples are intended to be within the scope of the claims if they have structural elements that do not differ from the literal language of the claims, or if they include equivalent structural elements with insubstantial differences from the literal languages of the claims.
Claims (20)
1. An article of footwear comprising:
an upper for receiving a foot of a wearer; and
a sole structure attached to the upper and positioned generally below the foot, the sole structure having at least one opening formed therein extending through the sole structure and being constructed to allow a portion of the foot of the wearer to contact a ground surface.
2. The article of footwear of claim 2 wherein the sole structure comprises:
a heel portion configured to receive a heel of a wearer; and
a ball portion configured to receive a ball of the foot of the wearer.
3. The article of footwear of claim 2 wherein the heel portion comprises a U-shaped portion having an opening formed in an interior area thereof.
4. The article of footwear of claim 2 wherein each of the heel portion and the ball portion include a plurality of apertures formed therethrough.
5. The article of footwear of claim 4 wherein each of the plurality of apertures comprises a funnel shaped aperture funneling from a wider aperture opening formed in a top surface of the sole structure to a narrower aperture opening formed in a bottom surface of the sole structure.
6. The article of footwear of claim 2 wherein the sole structure comprises an outer perimeter portion outlining a shape of the sole structure, the outer perimeter portion extending between the heel portion and the ball portion and extending forward from the ball portion to define a front edge of the sole structure.
7. The article of footwear of claim 6 wherein inner edges of the heel portion, ball portion, and outer perimeter portion defining each of the at least one openings are constructed to curve upward toward the foot of the wearer.
8. The article of footwear of claim 2 wherein the sole structure terminates at the ball portion, such that toes of the wearer are exposed to the ground surface.
9. The article of footwear of claim 1 wherein the at least one opening comprises an opening formed in a midfoot region of the sole structure in an area adjacent to a metatarsal arch of the wearer.
10. The article of footwear of claim 1 wherein the at least one opening comprises an opening formed in a forefoot region of the sole structure in an area adjacent to toes of the wearer.
11. The article of footwear of claim 10 wherein the opening formed in the forefoot region of the sole structure comprises a plurality of openings, the plurality of openings including at least a respective toe opening corresponding to each toe of the wearer.
12. The article of footwear of claim 1 wherein the sole structure has a thickness configured to allow a portion of the foot of the wearer to contact a ground surface through the at least one opening.
13. An article of footwear comprising:
an upper for receiving a foot of a wearer; and
a sole structure attached to the upper and positioned generally below the foot, the sole structure comprising:
a heel portion constructed to receive a heel of a wearer;
a ball portion constructed to receive a ball of the foot of the wearer; and
an opening extending generally between the heel portion and the ball portion in a midfoot region of the sole structure;
wherein the sole structure is constructed such that a thickness of the heel and ball portions and a size of the opening provide for a portion of the foot of the wearer to contact a ground surface.
14. The article of footwear of claim 13 wherein the sole structure further comprises an outer perimeter portion outlining a shape of the sole structure, the outer perimeter portion extending between the heel portion and the ball portion and extending forward from the ball portion to define a front edge of the sole structure.
15. The article of footwear of claim 14 wherein the sole structure includes at least one additional opening formed therethrough, the at least one additional opening being formed in the sole structure between the ball portion and the outer perimeter portion defining the front edge of the sole in an area adjacent to a toe portion of the wearer, the at least one additional opening being sized to provide for a portion of the foot of the wearer to contact a ground surface.
16. The article of footwear of claim 13 wherein each of the heel portion and the ball portion has a plurality of apertures formed therein configured to provide for drainage of water and dirt therethrough.
17. A sole structure for an article of footwear comprising:
a plurality of weight bearing portions configured to bear a weight of the wearer; and
an outer perimeter portion outlining a shape of the sole structure and connecting the plurality of weight bearing portions;
wherein at least one opening is formed in the sole structure and is defined by the plurality of weight bearing portions and the outer perimeter portion, each of the at least one openings being sized so as to allow a portion of a plantar surface of a foot of the wearer to contact a ground surface.
18. The sole structure of claim 17 wherein the plurality of weight bearing portions comprises:
a heel portion configured to receive a heel of the foot of the wearer; and
a ball portion configured to receive a ball of the foot of the wearer, the ball portion being connected to the heel portion by way of the outer perimeter portion.
19. The sole structure of claim 18 wherein the at least one opening comprises:
a first opening formed through the sole structure between the heel portion and the ball portion and covering a majority of an area therebetween; and
a plurality of openings formed through the sole structure forward of the ball portion and distal from the heel portion, the plurality of openings including at least an opening corresponding to each toe of a wearer.
20. The sole structure of claim 17 wherein the plurality of weight bearing portions and the outer perimeter portion have a thickness configured to allow a portion of the plantar surface of the foot of the wearer to contact the ground surface through the at least one opening.
Priority Applications (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
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US12/846,888 US8490302B2 (en) | 2010-07-30 | 2010-07-30 | Open-soled article of footwear |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
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US12/846,888 US8490302B2 (en) | 2010-07-30 | 2010-07-30 | Open-soled article of footwear |
Publications (2)
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US20120023780A1 true US20120023780A1 (en) | 2012-02-02 |
US8490302B2 US8490302B2 (en) | 2013-07-23 |
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US12/846,888 Expired - Fee Related US8490302B2 (en) | 2010-07-30 | 2010-07-30 | Open-soled article of footwear |
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Cited By (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US20130255109A1 (en) * | 2012-03-29 | 2013-10-03 | William J. Hyslop | Footwear |
US20160293908A1 (en) * | 2015-04-06 | 2016-10-06 | Samsung Sdi Co., Ltd. | Rechargeable battery |
KR20230011169A (en) * | 2021-07-13 | 2023-01-20 | 충북대학교 산학협력단 | Shoe type socks for barefoot walking |
Families Citing this family (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US10448698B2 (en) * | 2016-03-23 | 2019-10-22 | Fabricio Emmanuelli | Protective shoe cover |
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US8490302B2 (en) | 2013-07-23 |
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